SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
March 29, 2007
HANCOCK HOLDING COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Mississippi 0-13089 64-0169065
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(State or other (Commission File (I.R.S. Employer
jurisdiction of Number) Identification Number)
incorporation)
One Hancock Plaza, 2510 14th Street,
Gulfport, Mississippi 39501
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
(228) 868-4000
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(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT
Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors;
Appointment of Principal Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
On March 29, 2007, Hancock Holding Company issued a press release announcing the
appointment of Treasurer Michael M. Achary as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Information
Officer D. Shane Loper as Chief Operations Officer of Hancock Holding Company. In
Information regarding Mr. Achary and Mr. Loper is contained in the press release attached
hereto as Exhibit 99.1.
Item 8.01. Other Events. On March 29, 2007, Hancock Holding Company issued
a press release announcing the appointment of the appointment of Treasurer Michael M.
Achary as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Information Officer D. Shane Loper as Chief
Operations Officer of Hancock Holding Company. Information regarding Mr. Achary and
Mr. Loper is contained in the press release attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(c) Exhibits.
99.1 Press Release issued by Hancock Holding Company
dated March 29, 2007, headed "Hancock Holding Company
appoints Achary as Chief Financial Officer, Loper as
Chief Operations Officer."
Exhibit 99.1
HANCOCK HOLDING COMPANY
For Immediate Release
April 2, 2007
For More Information
R. Paul Maxwell
VP & Corporate Communications Manager
228.563.7953 or paul_maxwell@hancockbank.com
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Hancock Holding Company appoints Achary as Chief Financial Officer,
Loper as Chief Operations Officer
GULFPORT, MS (March 29, 2007) - Hancock Holding Company Chief Executive Officers Carl J. Chaney and John M.
Hairston announced today that company Treasurer Michael M. Achary has been named Hancock Holding Company Chief
Financial Officer, and company Chief Information Officer D. Shane Loper has been named Hancock Holding Company
Chief Operations Officer.
With this promotion, Achary assumes executive responsibility for financial management, planning, and
reporting, and corporate balance sheet management. Chaney and Hairston said Achary's professional background at
Hancock as well as previous professional positions at First Commerce Corporation in New Orleans prepared him for
this assignment.
"Mike Achary led the effort to overhaul Hancock's profitability measurement and income statement
accountability systems when he first joined the team, and thereafter led the corporate finance effort to fully
comply with key provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act," said Chaney.
Hairston added, "When Hurricane Katrina devastated corporate operations in Gulfport, Achary exhibited
outstanding leadership and level-headedness to restore Hancock's financial operations. He has flourished during
trial-by-fire, and we are proud today to announce him as our corporate CFO."
Hancock Holding Company Chairman of the Board George A. Schloegel said, "Mike Achary is an acknowledged
professional in the accounting and bank financial community and will continue to serve as our conduit to the
investment community."
Achary, who joined Hancock in summer 2000, served as a senior vice president at New Orleans based First
Commerce Corporation and as chief financial officer for a New Orleans law firm. A certified public accountant,
Achary received both a bachelor of science degree in accounting and a master of business administration degree
from the University of New Orleans. Achary is also a graduate of the prestigious Graduate School of Banking at
Louisiana State University. He resides in Mandeville, LA, with his wife and three children.
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Shane Loper, an Ocean Springs native, will retain his duties as CIO and will have executive oversight of
corporate deposit and lending operations, technology, direct banking, human resources, and various administrative
areas.
Chief Executive Officers Chaney and Hairston said Hancock's board of directors approved Loper's appointment
based on his proven leadership and guidance in several managerial assignments, most recently in restoring
Hancock's core operations in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Hairston said, "Like Mike Achary, Shane exhibited leadership and ability under the toughest possible
conditions. Company leadership looked to him to make critical and prudent decisions on behalf of customers,
shareholders, and fellow associates."
Chaney pointed to Loper's experience as a long-term Hancock associate, stating, "Shane joined us as a
technologist nearly 16 years ago and quickly moved up the ranks, most recently in being named CIO. He continues
to garner respect and credibility from all those with whom he comes in contact inside and outside the company."
Loper received a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and an M.B.A. from Troy State
University. He is a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University and was selected as
one of the 2005 Top 40 under 40 by the Mississippi Business Journal. He has held management positions in
Information Technology, Bank Operations, and Human Resources during his tenure with Hancock.
Loper is also a major in the Mississippi Army National Guard and a graduate of Leadership Gulf Coast.
Active in the Jackson County and Mississippi Gulf Coast communities, Loper lives in Ocean Springs with his wife
and two children.
Hancock Bank Chairman Leo W. Seal, Jr., said, "It is a pleasure to see two more success stories - promoting
individuals already within our organization to top management positions. Mike and Shane both exhibit the values
that have shaped Hancock over these 108 years." He added, "This transition completes the company short-term
management succession effort begun December 31, 2006, when our Board of Directors asked Chaney and Hairston to
assume the roles that George Schloegel and I had for many years. Achary and Loper will now assume duties which
allow Chaney and Hairston to concentrate on their new role."
About Hancock Bank
Hancock Holding Company - parent company of Hancock Bank of Alabama, Hancock Bank Mississippi, Hancock Bank
of Florida, and Hancock Bank of Louisiana - has assets of more than $6 billion. Bank subsidiaries include
Hancock Investment Services, Inc., Hancock Insurance Agency, and Harrison Finance Company. Additionally, the
company operates corporate trust offices in Gulfport, MS, Jackson, MS, New Orleans, and Baton Rouge. Hancock's
trust department, a division of the wealth management group, has assets of $7.4 billion, with assets under
management of $2.31 billion, as of December 31, 2006.
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Founded October 10, 1899, Hancock Bank is the only financial services company headquartered in the Gulf
South to rate among the top 20 percent of America's top performing banks. Hancock consistently ranks as one of
the country's strongest, safest financial institutions, according to Veribanc, Inc., and BauerFinancial Services,
Inc. Thomson Financial also recently listed Hancock as the ninth largest corporate trustee bank in the U.S.
More corporate information and online banking are available at www.hancockbank.com.
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Dated: April 2, 2007
HANCOCK HOLDING COMPANY
(Registrant)
By: /s/ Paul D. Guichet
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Paul D. Guichet
Vice President
Investor Relations